Private Investigator Licensing by State PI License Required for CFE Conducting State Statute Link for Licensing or Additional Information CFE Conducting Fraud Investigations for Own CPA Exempt? Notes Examinations? Employer Exempt? Alabama currently has no P.I. licensing requirement, although Yes, in Birmingham & some cities, such as Birmingham and Mobile, have their own Alabama None Alabama State Code N/A N/A Mobile, not statewide. requirements. State statues list a fee for detective agencies to operate. Yes, in Fairbanks, not Alaska doesn't have PI licensing requirements, but the City of Alaska None City of Fairbanks PI Licensing Information N/A N/A statewide. Fairbanks requires a PI license and bond.
Statute does not specifically state that CPAs are exempt, but under 32-2409: "a person, firm or corporation, or employee of a person, firm or corporation, engaged in the business of obtaining and Arizona AZ Revised Statutes § 32-24-2409 Arizona PI Licensing Yes Yes No furnishing financial and related personal information for others, if the person, firm or corporation does not engage in other investigative research and if the employee is not employed or connected with any private investigator's business" is exempt.
Arkansas AK Code §17-40 PI Statute; 17-40-103 Exemptions Arkansas PI Licensing Information Yes Yes No Investigators are required to be licensed in Arkansas.
Anyone conducting an investigation in California must be licensed. CA Business & Professions Code § 3-11.3-7512-7573; California Bureau of Security and Investigative Out-of-state PIs may continue an investigation in California that California Yes Yes No §3-11.3-7522 Exemptions Services began in their home states if they're licensed in their home states but only under certain circumstances.
A recent Colorado legislative session has enacted requirements for Colorado Revised Statutes § 1-12-58.5 PIs beyond the current voluntary licensure. The state is now Colorado Colorado PI Licensure Unknown Unknown Unknown developing protocols to comply with the new laws. Check the state's website for updates.
An investigator in Connecticut must be licensed. The statute 2011 CT General Assembly Vol 9, Title 29, Chapter doesn't make any reference to persons who may qualify for an Connecticut Connecticut Private Investigative Rules Yes No No 534 exemption. The statutes have just been updated, and new rules will be developed. Check website for updates. An investigator in Delaware must be licensed. The statute doesn't Delaware Delaware Code §24-13-1301-1341 Delaware Private Investigator License Information Yes No No make allowances for exemptions. An investigator in Washington, D.C,. must be licensed by the D.C. District of Columbia Municipal Regulations §17-2000 DC Metro Police - Investigator Licensing Yes No No district; the statutes do not specify any exemptions. An investigator in Florida must be licensed. There's an exemption provided for "persons holding professional licenses in Florida when Yes, ONLY if providing expert advice in their professions" and employees FL Department of Agriculture and Consumer Florida Florida Statutes §32-493 Yes Yes licensed CPA in conducting "In-house investigators who are solely, exclusively, and Services: Private Investigative Industry Florida. regularly employed as an investigator in connection with the business of an employer that does not advertise or provide investigative services for a fee." Georgia Secretary of State: Professional Licensing Georgia Georgia Code §43-38-14 Boards: Board Of Private Detective and Security Yes Yes No An investigator in Georgia must be licensed. Agencies An investigator in Hawaii must obtain a license. In narrow circumstances, a CFE or CPA may not be required to be licensed, but only if their "business is exclusively the furnishing of Hawaii Revised Statutes §10-463 Private Detectives; information as to the business and financial standing and credit Hawaii Hawaii Board of Private Detectives and Guards Yes Yes No §10-463-13 Exemptions responsibility of persons, firms or corporations, or as to personal habits and financial responsibility, of applicants for insurance, indemnity bonds, or commercial credit, or an attorney at law in performing the attorney's duties as such attorney at law." The State of Idaho has just enacted legislation regarding licensing Idaho Text of Enacted Bill State of Idaho Government Unknown Unknown Unknown private investigators. Check with the Bureau of Occupational Licenses for updates. An investigator in Illinois must be licensed. This act doesn't apply to “The activities of persons or firms licensed under the Illinois Public IL Division of Financial and Professional Regulation: Illinois Illinois Revised Statutes §225-447 Private Detectives Yes Yes Yes Accounting Act if performed in the course of their professional Private Detective Licensing practice." If not licensed in Illinois, ensure that reciprocity or mobility practice falls under the PI act.
An investigator in Indiana must be licensed. Exceptions to the PI act include "a certified public accountant with a certificate under IC 25- Indiana Code § 25-30-1 Private Investigator Firms; § Indiana Professional Licensing Agency: Private Indiana Yes Yes Yes 2.1-3 to the extent that the person is engaged in an investigation 25-30-1(5) Exemption Investigator and Security Guard Licensing Board incident to the practice of accountancy." If not licensed in Indiana, ensure that reciprocity or mobility practice falls under the PI act.
An investigator in Iowa must be licensed. The Iowa Department of Iowa Iowa Code § 3-1-80A Iowa DPS Licensing Bureau Yes Yes No Public Safety regulates private investigators. Although attorneys are exempt, there's no mention of CPAs being exempt. Kansas Kansas Statutes § 75-7b-3 Kansas Private Investigative Licensing Yes Yes No An investigator in Kansas must be licensed. An investigator in Kentucky must be licensed. The statute excludes "a public accountant, certified public accountant, or the bona fide Kentucky Kentucky Revised Statutes §26-329A-070 Kentucky Board of Licensure for Private Investigators Yes Yes Yes employee of either, performing duties within the scope of public accountancy." An investigator in Louisiana must be licensed. The statute exempts Yes, if licensed Louisiana Louisiana Revised Statutes § 37-3500 Louisiana Board of Private Investigator Examiners Yes Yes attorneys and CPAs licensed to practice within the state of in Louisiana. Louisiana. Yes, unless only An investigator in Maine must be licensed. Exemption includes "a Only for expert ME Department of Public Safety- State Police: conducting investigation person acting within the scope of the person's professional practice Maine Maine Revised Statutes § 32-89-8101 to 8121 Yes witness Private Investigator Licensing for expert witness to analyze facts, evidence or other data for the purposes of services. services. supplying expert testimony in a legal proceeding." An investigator in the state of Maryland must be licensed. The Maryland Maryland Code Title 13 Private Detectives Maryland State Police: Licensing Division Yes No No statute makes no reference to exemptions.
An investigator in Massachusetts must be licensed. Exceptions include "Individuals who are independently and currently licensed by the commonwealth in a profession or field of expertise, Yes, if licensed Massachusetts General Law § 1-20-147, Sections 22- whereby they are exclusively utilized and confined in conducting an Massachusetts Massachusetts PI License Info Yes Yes in 30 investigation to that profession or field of expertise, inasmuch as Massachusetts. the context and extent of their inquiry and investigation does not exceed the particular area of their profession or field of expertise in which they are independently licensed within the commonwealth. " An investigator in Michigan must be licensed. The statute states "a certified public accountant currently licensed, registered or certified by a regulatory agency of this or any other state or a Michigan Dept. of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: public accounting firm currently licensed, registered, or certified by Michigan Michigan Compiled Laws §338-821 to 851 Yes Yes Yes Private Investigator Licensing a regulatory agency of this or any other state, including the employees of the certified public accountant or public accounting firm acting within the scope of the individual's or the public accounting firm's professional practice" are exempt.
MN 2010 Statutes 326.32-326.339: Private Detectives, Protective Agents MN 2010 Statutes MN State Board of Private Detective and Protective Minnesota 326.32: Definitions MN 2010 Statutes 326.3341: Yes Yes No An investigator in Minnesota must be licensed. Agent Services Exemptions MN 2010 Statutes 326.338: Persons Engaged as Private Detectives or Protective Agents Mississippi currently has no licensing requirements for private Mississippi None N/A N/A N/A investigators. An investigator in Missouri must be licensed. However, "a certified public accountant, performing duties as a certified public Missouri 2010 Revised Statutes § 22-324-1100 to MO Division of Professional Registration: Board of accountant, who holds an active license issued by any state and the Missouri Yes Yes Yes 1148 Private Investigator Examiners- Licensing employees of such certified public accountant or firm assisting in the performance of duties or investigation on behalf of such certified public accountant or firm" is exempt. Montana Department of Labor and Industry- Montana Code §37-60 PI Regulations; §37-60-105 Montana Business Standards: Licensing- Board of Private Yes Yes No An investigator in Montana is required to be licensed. Exemptions Security Officers and Investigators Nebraska Revised Statutes § 71-3201 Private Nebraska Nebraska Licensing- Private Investigator Yes No No An investigator in Nebraska is required to be licensed. Detectives An investigator in Nevada is required to be licensed. Exceptions include a "holder of a certificate of certified public accountant Nevada Nevada Revised Statutes Title 54, Chapter 648 Nevada Private Investigator's Board Yes Yes Yes issued by the Nevada State Board of Accountancy pursuant to chapter 628 of NRS while performing his or her duties pursuant to the certificate." An investigator in New Hampshire is required to be licensed. Persons exempt from the licensing requirements are "a certified New Hampshire New Hampshire Revised Statutes §7-106-F1 to F16 NH Permits and Licensing Unit Yes Yes Yes public accountant who holds an active permit issued by any state or a public accounting firm registered in any state, and the employees of such certified public accountant or firm." New Jersey New Jersey Statutes § 45-19-9 to 19-27 New Jersey Private Detective Information Yes Yes No An investigator in New Jersey is required to be licensed. New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 61-27B-1 to 35 An investigator in New Mexico is required to be licensed. CPAs New Mexico New Mexico Private Investigators Advisory Board Yes Yes No Private Investigations Act aren't exempt from the licensing requirements. New York Revised Statutes GBS, Article 7, Sections 70- An investigator in New York is required to be licensed. CPAs aren't New York NY Division of Licensing Services Yes No No 89A: Private Investigators exempt from the licensing requirements.
An investigator in North Carolina is required to be licensed. Exceptions include "a person engaged in (i) computer or digital forensic services or in the acquisition, review, or analysis of digital North Carolina North Carolina Statutes §74C-1-1 to 30 NC Private Protective Services Board Yes Yes No or computer‑ based information, whether for the purposes of obtaining or furnishing information for evidentiary or other purposes." However, CPAs aren't exempt except as above.
An investigator in North Dakota must be licensed. Exemptions include an "expert who specializes in a specific, limited area of practice ... auditor, accountant or accounting clerk performing North Dakota Code § 43-30-01; § 43-30-02: North Dakota Private Investigation and Security North Dakota Yes Yes Yes audits or accounting functions, or other areas of practice covered Exemptions Board by other licensure in the state, and other areas determined by the board, that fall within the individual's scope of employment, incidental to the investigative profession."
An investigator in Ohio is required to be licensed. Exemptions Ohio Revised Code Title 47, Chapter 4749: Private include "attorneys at law or any expert hired by an attorney at law Investigator; Security Services Ohio Revised Code Yes, except for expert for consultation or litigation purposes," and "an accountant who is Ohio 4749.01: Private Investigator-Security Services Ohio Private Investigator/ Security Guard Section witness or consulting Yes Yes registered or certified under Chapter 4701 of the Revised Code, or Definitions Ohio Revised Code 4749.03: License expert. any of the accountant's employees while engaged in activities for Requirements which the accountant is certified or registered." An investigator in Oklahoma is required to be licensed and Oklahoma Oklahoma 2011 Statutes §59-1750-1 to 14 OK Licensing Private Investigators Yes Yes No applicants with no training must complete CLEET approved and mandated training. An investigator in Oregon is required to be licensed and take an No, unless Oregon Oregon Revised Statutes § 15-52-703 OR Private Security/ Investigators Yes Yes examination through the DPSST. Exceptions include an expert expert witness. witness conducting an investigation in anticipation of testimony.
An investigator in Pennsylvania is required to be licensed. Licenses Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 22 Pennsylvania Clerk of the Courts - PI License Info Yes Yes No are granted by the clerk of the court of the individual county.
An investigator in Rhode Island is required to be licensed. There are no exceptions for attorneys, CPAs or employees conducting internal investigations on behalf of their employer. There is an Rhode Island 2010 General Laws Title 5 Chapter 5-5: Rhode Island Rhode Island Statutes Section § 5-5-2 to 20 Yes No No exception for "an individual employed as a computer forensic Private Detective Act specialist who holds professional certification as a computer examiner." Licenses are granted by the county clerks of individual counties.
An investigator in South Carolina is required to be licensed. There South Carolina Private Investigator Business South Carolina South Carolina Code of Laws § 40-18-20 Yes No No are neither exceptions for CPAs nor for employees conducting License/Employee Registration internal investigations on behalf of their employers. South Dakota has no licensing requirements for private investigators, but a business "sales" license through the South Dakota None South Dakota DCI - No PI License Requirement N/A N/A N/A Department of Revenue is required. Some municipalities are considering licensing PIs, so check your jurisdiction. An investigator in Tennessee is required to be licensed. Exceptions include "a consultant when the person is retained by an attorney or appointed by a court to make tests, conduct experiments, draw Yes, unless acting as a conclusions, render opinions or make diagnoses, where those Tennessee Tennessee Code Title §62-26 Parts 1-3 TN Private Investigation and Polygraph Commission consultant to an attorney, Yes Yes services require the use of training or experience in a technical, such as an expert witness. scientific or social science field" and "a public accountant and a certified public accountant, or the agent of either, performing duties relating to public accountancy."
An investigator in Texas is required to be licensed. The Texas Commission on Private Security regulates private detectives. Exceptions include "a person or firm licensed as an accountant or Texas Texas Statutes Title 10 Chapter 1702 Texas Private Security Bureau Yes Yes Yes accounting firm under Chapter 901, an owner of an accounting firm, or an employee of an accountant or accounting firm while performing services regulated under Chapter 901." An investigator in Utah is required to be licensed. UT Code 53-9- 102 (17)(b) states " 'Private investigator or private detective' doesn't include: (i) any person or employee conducting an investigation on the person's or employee's own behalf or on Utah Utah Updated Code §53-9-101 to 119 Utah Private Investigators Yes Yes Yes behalf of the employer if the employer is not a private investigator under this chapter; (ii) an employee of an attorney licensed to practice law in this state; or (iii) a currently licensed certified public accountant or CPA as defined in Section 58-26a-102."
An investigator in Vermont is required to be licensed. There's no mention of CPAs being exempt. However, "Attorneys engaged in the practice of law, and law clerks, paralegals and other laypersons VT Board of Private Investigative and Security Vermont Vermont 2010 Statutes § 26-59-3151 to 3183 Yes Yes No regularly employed exclusively by one attorney or law firm when Services the attorney or law firm retains complete professional responsibility for the work product of the law clerk, paralegal or other laypersons in his, her or its employ" are exempt.
An investigator in Virginia is required to be licensed. Exceptions Virginia Virginia Code § 9.1-1-138 to 150 VA Regulatory Affairs Private Investigators Yes Yes No include "any certified forensic scientist employed as an expert witness for the purpose of possibly testifying as an expert witness." An investigator in Washington State is required to be licensed. Although the statute doesn't exempt CPAs, there's an exemption WA Business and Professional Licenses -Private Washington Washington 2011 Revised Statutes §18-165 for "a person solely engaged in the business of securing Investigator Yes No No information about persons or property from public records." Attorneys are also exempt. An investigator in West Virginia is required to be licensed. Although attorneys and employees conducting internal investigations are West Virginia West Virginia Code §30-18-1 to 13 WV Licensing Private Investigator Yes Yes No exempt from the licensing requirements, there's no mention of an exemption for CPAs.
An investigator in Wisconsin is required to be licensed. The Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing regulates Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 440, Section 26, private detectives. Although attorneys are exempt from the Wisconsin WI Private Detective Licensing Yes No No Subchapter II licensing requirements, there's no mention of an exemption for CPAs, and there's no mention of employees conducting investigations for their non-attorney employer. Wyoming doesn’t require a PI license. However, the City of Wyoming None City of Cheyenne PI License Information N/A N/A N/A Cheyenne requires a license. Information compiled as of April 9, 2013. All statutes and links are subject to change. Consult local counsel to determine the applicability of statutes in your individual case.